In an exclusive interview with Kwaku Adjei, of wrestling podcast Eat Sleep Suplex Retweet, the 20-year-old from Glasgow told how he’d dreamed of running his own zoo, until he noticed his favourite actor return to the sport he first made his name back in 2011.

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“It came about seven years ago when I watched The Rock team up with John Cena at Survivor Series for the first time. I liked The Rock, he's one of my favourite actors in movies, and so I watched him and thought what's he doing here? Usually I see him in the theatre, why do I see him on telly body slamming folk?

“So I thought, I'll give this a watch for a while and it just caught on from there. Before, I wanted to be a zookeeper. I love animals and I wanted to have my own zoo. But eventually, once wrestling came in, that went out the window.”

Despite only wrestling for a relatively short period of time, Kieran has adapted quickly to the sport, and can be seen regularly across the circuit in Scotland, competing for the likes of Source Wrestling, where he currently trains, as well GPWA, Premier British Wrestling and Reckless Intent. Each of these companies attracts a different kind of fan in, and performing in front of different crowds has helped Kieran developed as a character.

(Image: Kieran Kelly/Facebook)

“It helps a lot especially with crowds like PBW and Source. Source has a more family crowd, as well as having a very local wrestling fanbase - especially in Govan. Half the crowd are family, while some are ICW fans so you get that hardcore fan aspect along with the family.

“With PBW, it's kind of the same but more family so it's a whole lot of fun with these places. It just helps me improve as well with trying to react with folk and how I take it.”

His most high profile exposure to date has come in the past few months, when he has begun appearing regularly as part of ICW.

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While not listed at present as a member of the active roster, Kelly played a prominent role in the feud between company stalwart Chris Renfrew and Commonwealth star Joe Hendry, where he served as Renfrew’s personal referee as they competed - it was billed as the longest match in wrestling history at 76 days.

“76 days of nothing but Twirls and Lucozade and sleeping in Chris's house. I had no sleep, and he made me do all the shifts. He tackled me through snow trying to find Joe and Leyton (Joe’s intern).

“The whole thing isn’t over yet, the match is done but it’s all still going on. Just keep an eye on it and see what happens.”

Wrestling in Scotland and the UK is going through an interesting phrase right now, with the giants of the WWE making more and more strides into the UK market. Their fledging UK division and the up coming return of their United Kingdom championship tournament this June.

A number of WWE stars have been seen wrestling on the UK scene in the past two years, with WWE champions being seen at even the smallest of shows in Glasgow, and Kieran got to see this first hand when he went face to face with one of them.

(Image: Kieran Kelly/Facebook)

“I got to wrestle Tyler Bate, the first ever WWE UK champion, at one of the Source shows, in my first main event in Govan, so that was dream ticked.

“It was one hell of a match and he was WWE UK champion at the time. He’s one of the best in the world, and it was at that moment I’m going wow, I’m getting this opportunity to step in with the very best. He's been there and done that. Can I try and top him? Could I beat him? Unfortunately I didn&'t but it helped me to where i am today.”

Wrestling a WWE champion at such an earlier point in his career has provided Kieran with a tremendous starting point, and he is already eyeing up making it to the very top.

“I want to follow in the footsteps of the Source originals like Killian Dain and Nikki Cross (both WWE Superstars). I'd like to go to WWE NXT, and that's pretty much the end goal for me as a wrestler.

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“Right now, it's pretty much a case of getting my name out there continuing to do what I do. Get booked for promotions in Scotland, hopefully more down south and continue to stay with ICW, and get out of the referee thing and become a wrestler full time with them.

“I really just keep doing what I'm doing, I'm enjoying what I've got now so just keep it alive.”

Kieran will next be in action at the sold out Wrestling Experience Scotland show in Maryhill this Saturday (June 9).

You can also see Kieran at ICW’s upcoming Fight Club taping on June 17 at The Garage, as well as at the tournament to crown a new Source Wrestling Champion over the course of three days, July 13-15 in Pollokshaws.